WATCH: USC Defeats ASU 42-28 in Tempe (9/23)

USC took the road for the first time Saturday and traveled to Tempe (AZ) to face the Arizona St. Sun Devils. ASU didn’t score against Fresno St. and USC hadn’t been held to under 56 points in its first three games. So, Las Vegas had the Trojans pegged as 34.5 point favorites.

While I didn’t believe they’d cover, I did think USC would by four touchdowns. The Trojans seemed to struggled offensively, but still outscored ASU 42-28 when the clock struck Zero. USC struggling offensively in 2023 equates to 42 points, but struggling defensively this season is something the Trojans hoped to avoid at times in 2022.

We can’t say USC’s struggles defensively versus ASU reminded us of the Utah and Tulane games, but it wasn’t good.

Erik Mckinney and Marc Kulkin provided quick thoughts in our WeAreSC Wrap right after the game ended.

The No. 5 USC Trojans moved to 4-0 on the 2023 season, but the 42-28 win against Arizona State in the desert felt a lot different than the first three. The Trojans struggled with the Sun Devils well into the fourth quarter before eventually escaping with a win. Here, the WeAreSC crew gives a quick postgame look at what matters from this one for the Trojans.

The USC Standouts

MarShawn Lloyd was terrific in this one outside of a miscommunication with Caleb Williams that led to a costly early fumble. He rished for 154 yards on 14 carries and was a constant big-play provider whenever the Trojans went to him.

Caleb Williams didn’t play his prettiest game, but he finished 20-for-31 for 331 yards and three scores through the air, plus two rushing touchdowns.

Brenden Rice caught seven passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

— Erik McKinney

You’ll Remember

You’ll remember all of the team’s penalties (10-85), the 1st half fumbles, and the disjointed USC offense way more than the Trojans 42-28 victory on the road. You’ll remember what the USC defense looked like in 2022 with too many missed tackles, and an inability to get off the field unless they created a turnovers. 

You’ll remember MarShawn Lloyd running for 154 yards on only 11 carries and wondering why Lincoln Riley chose to not give him the ball at least 10 more times.

What everyone needs to remember is the Trojans are 4-0 coming off a bye week and playing their first road game of the season and that there is still a ton of work to do.

— Marc Kulkin

Field View Highlights

Sunday’s Takeaways

Hey, there is still no better nightcap to end a Trojans’ football weekend than celebrating with a glass of Champagne!

However, for some reason, today’s USC Champagne Sunday doesn’t have your typical sweet taste of victory.

The Trojans found a way to escape their own version of Sun Devil Hell following their less-than-inspiring 42-28 victory on the road vs. its overmatched opponent. Anyone who watches sports understands teams have a tendency to struggle when they play on the road. So of course, that was the positive spin USC head coach Lincoln Riley pointed to following the game when he said, “There’s a reason why the home team wins 70% of the time.”

That’s true, Coach! 

However, when you’re a 34-point favorite playing in someone else’s house, your team needs to act like it. Because if you don’t, then teams like Arizona St. will find tricky ways to embarrass you and make you look unprepared coming off your bye week. 

I asked Coach Riley during our Thursday Zoom call about sending a message when you’re playing against an overmatched opponent because I’ve been following USC a lot longer than Lincoln Riley. 

Riley has forgotten more about football than I’ll ever understand. But I know how hard USC has to work for national respect and how important a message from the west coast matters.